Tuesday, June 12, 2012

What are three quotes that show what other people think of Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Tom Robinson is a peace-loving black man who works hard, is polite, and just wants to get along with people. For this reason, he is considered a figurative mockingbird.


While there is much talk about Tom, he does not appear on the scene until the trial, but he is talked about a great deal beforehand. For instance, while Atticus in is Montgomery for the summer legislative session, Calpurnia takes the children with her to her church, the First Purchase African Methodist Episcopalian Church in the Quarters. During his sermon, the Reverend Sykes reads from a paper:



"You all know of Brother Tom Robinson's trouble. He has been a faithful member of First Purchase since he was a boy. The collection taken up today and for the next three Sundays will go to Helen—his wife, to help her out at home" (Chapter 12).



This quote points to Tom's character—he regularly attends church and is a good Christian.  


During his testimony in court, Bob Ewell accuses Tom of raping his daughter, Mayella. When Mayella testifies, she lies, saying,



"'fore I knew it he was on me. Just run up behind me, he did. He got me round the neck, cussin' me an' sayin' dirt—I fought'n'hollered, but he had me round the neck. He hit me agin' an' agin--. . . he chunked me on the floor an' choked me'n took advantage of me" (Chapter 18). 



Mayella cruelly portrays Tom as a predator, although he has been nothing but kind to her. 


As Tom takes the stand, Mr. Link Deas, his employer, stands up in court and says, 



"I just want the whole lot of you to know one thing right now. That boy's worked for me eight years an' I ain't had a speck o'trouble outa him. Not a speck" (Chapter 19).



Of course, Mr. Deas should not have spoken out in court, so he is ordered to be removed from the room by Judge Taylor, who does not want to declare a mistrial. Further, he instructs the reporter to expunge anything that Mr. Deas has said.


After Tom is shot trying to escape, Mr. Underwood, the editor of the Maycomb Tribune, writes an editorial in which he "simply figured it was a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting, or escaping. He likened Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds [like mockingbirds] by hunters and children" (Chapter 25).

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